At Artascope Studios we offer a six-week Artist Series format that is the perfect combination of  inspiration and technique. These in-depth classes allow you to indulge your inner artist without committing to several months of class time. We welcome absolute beginners and intermediate students. This January we’re excited to announce the addition of a Fused Glass class to our Artist Series. With the drop-in option (just call ahead), it’s easier than ever to join! Each Artist Series meets once a week for three hours. The curriculum begins with weekly projects and gradually progresses to individual exploration. Artist Series classes cost $195 for a six consecutive classes or $40 per class. Material kits are available to get you started!

Lizzie Ruskin is teaching Metalsmithing for Beginners on Tuesday mornings.  Lizzie has the patience and a sense of humor to make any class fun! Also on Tuesday mornings, Sukie Curtis shows students how to follow their intuition with Expressions in Oil. Sukie has a laid back style that will help you find your true artistic voice. Tuesday evenings will see Clint Fulkerson sharing his love for Metalsmithing. His great sense of design is sure to inspire, as he guides both beginners and intermediate students. Cynthia Legere does double duty this session, teaching both Precious Metal Clay (Wednesday mornings), and Fused Glass (Friday mornings).  With PMC, the possibilities are endless–sculpting and rolling the clay to any shape you desire. Once fired in the kiln, the resulting metal is sure to wow your friends.  In Cynthia’s Fused Glass class, you will immerse yourself in the creation of beautiful glass pieces you can hang in your window, or wear as jewelry! Finally, Christy Devault is continuing her popular Landscape Painting class on Thursday afternoons. Christy will take you step-by-step through the process of creating landscapes from photography.

Visit the Artascope Website or give us a call for more information-207-799-5154.

The holidays are approaching! Do you really want to trek around to all those stores this year? Wouldn’t you rather be nice and cozy at home, with a blanket and a hot drink? Why stress out at the mall, dealing with the crowds, when you can visit Artascope Studios in South Portland on Wednesdays and Sundays (now through December 14th) to learn how to make personalized, hand-made gifts for your friends and family. Forget Made in China—how about Made with Love, by You!

Learn how to make amazing gifts using these techniques: pouring ICE Resin® into decorated silver bezels; crafting simple beaded earrings; crocheting wire necklaces and bracelets; embossing designs on metal; drilling sea glass; making your own holiday cards or pretty gift tags; or displaying a favorite photo with image transfer.

Demos are held from 1-2 p.m. All materials are available for purchase at Artascope Studios, open daily 10-6 p.m. Ask about our Art Night Out evening classes! Gift certificates are also available. Visit us on FaceBook to view the individual dates in the Events section.

I was asked to write a guest blog. I had become a fan of Art Night Out’s Facebook page some time back. When a post was made about an art class that was coming up, it jogged my memory that Artascope existed. I took another look at the website, remembered why I had “liked” the page, and sent off an e-mail to Catherine to tell her how much I liked the Art Night Out idea. I asked if she planned to expand to an area closer to where I lived, as I would love to be a part of her company.

She responded immediately, saying, “Yes! I could actually use a teacher. Are you interested?” Now, I had never considered myself to be a candidate for teaching, but with my art background, and the fact that I had made jewelry in the past, I thought, “Why not!” I had signed up with a direct selling company the year before, and the skills and self-confidence I had been learning as a result has prepared me to mentor and guide others in learning a new skill.

I attended two of the Art Night Out classes in preparation to become a teacher. I loved it–absolutely loved it. I had forgotten how much fun it was to sit down and create. What makes it even more enjoyable is the camaraderie among the other participants. We chatted, and admired each others’ creations. We relaxed, and enjoyed snacks and drinks provided by the studio. And at the end of the class, we all had two finished pieces to take home.

I really like the social aspect of the Art Night Out concept. It is a chance for a group to meet up for a night away from the demands of daily life, to explore their creative side, and to connect with others, whether with an old friend, or a soon-to-be friend.

I highly recommend you take the time to attend some of these classes. They have such a variety from which to choose–I know I can’t wait to learn even more from Artascope Studios. Never stop learning–you never know what new doors it will open for you!

After a few team teach sessions with Catherine Bickford, I will begin teaching the classes at the Old Orchard Beach/Saco Adult and Community Education program, and will soon be offering classes on my own in Limerick, Cornish, Waterboro and surrounding towns in York County. Contact me at (207) 247-4794 to book your very own Art Night Out and enjoy creative fun in a party atmosphere with your friends.

This July and September, Portland, Maine artist, Elizabeth Prior will be teaching two wonderful Art Escape weekends geared towards taking your jewelry designing skills to the next level!

Elizabeth’s July 15-17th Art Escape will focus on jewelry design. During this weekend you will be introduced to Elizabeth and her work. Through her teachings you will learn how to go beyond store-bought findings and design and make your own headpins, clasps, jumprings and earwires. Learn ways to create unique and gorgeous jewelry findings without soldering. This is the perfect class to take if you are bored with store bought pieces, and need some new, creative ways to make your pieces! The best part is that once you feel you’ve mastered creating your own findings, join Elizabeth on September 30th- October 2nd for her Art Escape “Soldering at the Kitchen Table.” Learn to cut, file, form, solder and finish a ring from metal in addition to learning how to work a basic plumbers torch to create chains, headpins, and other findings. Elizabeth will also show you how to metal stamp your pieces for a lovely custom touch! You’ll walk away with new skills, and hopefully some inspiration excitement to create!

This May we’ve added many exciting new classes that have just been put up on our calender! New Artist Series classes are lined up, and with the new drop-in option (just call ahead), it’s easier than ever to join! These multi-week in-depth classes are for you to indulge your inner artist. This format is perfect for absolute beginners looking for a challenge or for intermediate students looking to sharpen their skills. Each Artist Series meets once a week for three hours. The curriculum begins with weekly projects and gradually progresses to individual exploration. Artist Series classes cost $195 for a six consecutive classes or $40 per class. Material kits are available to get you started!

Lizzie Ruskin is teaching Beginner Crochet on Mondays.  Lizzie has the patience and a sense of humor to make any class fun! We are so excited to have Clint Fulkerson back to teach metalsmithing on Tuesday evening. Clint took a short break as he jumped into parenthood with the birth of his daughter. Congratulations Clint and welcome back. On Tuesday mornings our own Gayle Raposa is teaching metalmithing for the beginner. Gayle’s methodical style of teaching is great for the newbie! On Wednesday Diane Brakeley is continuing her popular Resin Workshop. Diane has extensive experience with resin and will get all of your creative juices flowing!  Diana Ellis is bringing her expertise in watercolors on Wednesday evenings-her style will get you in the mood to bring your paints and palette to the garden this summer! Christi Devault is continuing her ever so popular landscape painting class on Thursday afternoons. Christie has quite a following and the studio is full of laughter when her group is here.

Visit the Artascope Website or give us a call for more information-207-799-5154

Art Night Out™ Party Kits and Workshop Kits debut at CHA Winter 2011 in Los Angeles, California. These creative party kits are based on the successful Art Night Out™ program developed at Artascope Studios in South Portland, Maine over the past decade. Each kit provides a complete experience for a party of friends at home or a complete workshop in a box for in-store events. Featured in the Innovations Showcase at CHA, Art Night Out™ products will be available in March from Artascope. FMI contact catherine@artnightout.com

Thursday December third starts another session of our landscape painting class with Christy DeVault.  Christy is an experienced fine art painter who also has the gift to be able to teach others.  Her patient demeanor and sense of humor allows her to help even the artistically challenged. I can tell you from experience that this class is one that will provide not only a great learning experience but it will also be so much fun. There are a few painters who come back week after week and let me tell you they know how to paint and have a great time.  Not only are they experienced painters but they are wonderful cheerleaders for us newbies! You can find more information and sign up here !

November 12th, 13th and 14th!

There is still time to register for our Vintage Holiday Frenzy! Make time for yourself before the holiday stress arrives. Not only will you learn new techniques but you will leave with lots of new holiday decor  and great new friends and memories! For more information and to sign up, use this link!

A weekend with Claudine Hellmuth proved to be everything we anticipated and more! It is always satisfying to learn new techniques but even more so when you have eighteen women and one beautiful bulldog filled with creative energy! The energy was lifted to another level because Claudine was in the house!!    For those of you who are wondering-Claudine was like having your friendly neighbor or best girlfriend over for lunch. Her down to earth demeanor, great sense of humor and passion for teaching others made us all feel fearless and inspired. Claudine repeatedly reminded us that learning the techniques is all about the process, not your final result.  Believe me, I took that advice to heart!!  I painted, applied beeswax, applied paper and fabric and then started over again. I truly enjoyed watching the other women dive in and create something that they loved. Many had family pictures that are now presented and archived in a beautiful way. Others created artwork for their grandaughters bedroom and some even incorporated a dead bee into their art. As the weekend was coming to an end I heard women say things like “thank you so much, my eyes are open again.”  Sometimes it takes a weekend of play, friendship, support and kindred spirits to remind us that we are creative beings and we deserve to treat ourselves ! Thank you Claudine for being a friend and an inspiration to so many-we are already looking forward to next year! For those of you who would like to read what Claudine had to say about her Artascope experience hop on over to Claudine’s Blog!  You can read more about our fabulous weekend, view our photo albums and see what else is happening at Artascope on our facebook page! and on our website!

At Artascope Studios there are many different formats of art classes that you can take to satisfy your creative needs. Art Escape® creative getaways are weekend-long classes in a special topic. They cover a unique variety of subjects from stained glass to metalsmithing, painting to collage.  All Art Escape® art classes are suitable for complete beginners as well as advanced artists. The classes are taught by professional artists who will guide you through this enriching experience; providing you with the right tools, materials and instruction so that you can step right into the art making process.

In September we are so excited to have Claudine Hellmuth coming back to Artascope to teach Beeswax Collage! She will show you how to create a collage entirely with beeswax – you don’t have to us other glues or adhesives! You’ll learn about beeswax transfers, stamping in wax, layering collage, glazing colors and other collage techniques too! The cool thing with this class is that “mistakes” can not really be made with beeswax. If you don’t like the placement of your papers you can remove them – even months later – and easily adjust your artwork! You’ll be amazed by how easy and fun beeswax collage can be!

Claudine Hellmuth is a nationally recognized collage artist, author and illustrator. Her artworks have been featured on The Martha Stewart Show, in Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion magazine, The New York Times, on HGTV’s “I Want That!” and on the DIY Network’s program, “Craft Lab.” In addition to creating her artwork full-time, Claudine teaches collage workshops in the US & Canada, and she has written 2 books about her techniques, “Collage Discovery Workshop” and “Collage Discovery Workshop: Beyond the Unexpected.” She has also produced three instructional DVD workshops.

Treat yourself to a weekend of creative indulgence in this stress free and relaxing environment in beautiful coastal Maine – check out the whole list of of Art Escape art classes!

Another very fun event at Artascope Studios is the Stella the Unicorn Painting Project! Come help decorate Stella, the paper mache unicorn. All you have to do is be at the Studios from 10 to 12 wearing paint clothes (we’re using house latex paint, which doesn’t was out of clothing well). Anyone can come, small children please come with an adult. We’ll take turns with Stella, five or so at a time, and those of us not with her can mix and choose colors an pick out fun papers, sequins, feathers and other fun decorations while we wait. Can’t wait to see you at Artascope on the last Sunday of August!